The legal basis for serving students with learning disabilities at the K-12 level is predominantly derived from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This federal law provides for substantive education support for students with learning disabilities through an Individualized Educational Program (IEP). However, because the IDEA…

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA 2004) requires that each local education agency provide a transition summary document, commonly called a Summary of Performance (SOP), to all special education students who are graduating with a regular diploma or reaching the maximum age for services. However, other than specifying…

Examines the necessity of defining the knowledge and skills required of postsecondary disability-service providers, due to the significant growth in the number of students with disabilities entering higher education. Discusses the implications of recent developments in professional standards for postsecondary disability personnel and the…

The development and dissemination of Program Standards and Performance Indicators for disability services in higher education provides research-based direction for postsecondary institutions, consumers and governmental agencies with respect to the services necessary to provide equal access for college students with disabilities. Twenty-eight…

A survey of 510 practitioners engaged in support services to college students with learning disabilities investigated attitudes toward and practice of self-advocacy training and methods to reduce student dependence on programs and increase autonomy. While most expressed strong support for self-advocacy practices, it was found that far fewer use…

Past, present, and future concerns regarding the definition of learning disabilities (LD) are documented. Research on efforts to clarify the LD label is discussed, including the questionable utility of the discrepancy model. An approach is presented for operationalizing the definition of LD of the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities.…

This text is designed to help postsecondary education personnel initiate or refine college programs for the increasing numbers of students with learning disabilities. Following an introductory chapter, chapters have the following titles: (1) "A Comprehensive Approach to Transition Planning"; (2) "Judicial Intent and Legal Precedents" (Laura F.…

The paper describes the need for increased training in services for learning disabled (LD) college students, noting large increases in numbers of LD students attending college. The role of special education teacher trainers in serving this population is stressed. Training roles are considered for special education teacher trainers in direct…

Proposed is a strategy according to which a classroom specialist would provide in-service learning experiences for classroom teachers with the objective of enabling teachers to become relatively self-sufficient and competent to teach basic skills to all students, including those with significant learning disabilities. (GW)

Proposes a model of adult development as the foundation for instruction and training of adults with learning disabilities. Presents the interrelationships and application of Malcolm Knowles' model to adults with learning disabilities along with specific examples applicable to special and vocational educators. (Contains 43 references.) (JOW)

Universal design for instruction is presented as a new paradigm for approaching equal educational access for college students with learning disabilities. Topics covered include changing student demographics, instructional challenges, the universal design concept, universal design in educational settings, and applying universal design to college…

A systematic decision making process to help match characteristics of the learning disabled (LD) student, characteristics of the postsecondary institution, and characteristics of the LD support program is described. (Author/DB)

Survey data from 471 community-technical college faculty indicated they were willing to use instructor-centered strategies (initiated by faculty and related to teaching methods) to accommodate students with learning disabilities. Accommodations in evaluation and collaborative methods such as mentoring and team teaching were used less frequently.…

Given the latest reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and evolving views on the identification of cognitive disabilities in special education, many high school graduates with learning disabilities and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder will have a Summary of Performance (SOP) in lieu of a recent…

The paucity of skilled and knowledgeable leadership personnel for postsecondary learning disability programs is a critical limitation to the development of this area of special education. This manuscript delineates competencies needed for leadership personnel and describes a preservice and an inservice training program. The preservice program is…